Gavin W. Maneveldt
Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology,
University of the Western Cape and CapeNature
Ernst H.W. Baard
Directorate Biodiversity Support, CapeNature
of the Earth’s ecosystems to sustain future human genThe state of our global environment
erations simply is no longer possible at our current rate
Global reports tell us that we are losing species at an
of resource utilisation. It is estimated that the annual
unprecedented rate, estimated to be at 100 to 1000
amount of ecological resources provided by the Earth
times greater than that of the ‘natural’ rate of extincto humans to survive is now depleted in or about Aution. It is now widely recognised that we will lose more
gust every year. It currently requires 1.6 Earths to supspecies of plants and animals between 2000 and 2065
than we’ve lost in the last 65 million years. It is estimat- port humanity’s demands on nature and this does not
even take into account the needs of the other species
ed, for example, that since 1970 we have already lost
that co-inhabit this planet with us. It is estimated that
as much as 50% of all known marine diversity. Furtherby 2050, Earth will need 2.3 years
more, one of every three amphibian
“If
humans
were
to
go
extinct
simply to regenerate the renewable
species, four mammal species, and
today, the birds and the trees
resources humans typically use in a
eight bird species, and an astonishwould still be there tomorrow.
single year.
ing six of every seven turtle species
However, if the birds and the
are now threatened with extinction.
trees were to go extinct toThe global Millennium Ecosystem AsIt has reached a point where internaday, humans would go exsessment of 2005 suggested that with
tional conservation specialists are
tinct tomorrow.”
appropriate actions it would be possitalking about “The Sixth Mass ExtincIndigenous North American
ble to reverse the degradation of
tion”, the last of which took place
Indian quote
many ecosystem services and the as65 million years ago. During that last
sociated species loss. We have the scientific knowledge
extinction event, 16% of marine families, 47% of maand the technical capabilities to achieve this. However,
rine genera, and 18% of land vertebrate families, inthe policies and practices required for such a turncluding the dinosaurs, went extinct. Human-induced
about are substantial and were then not in progress.
actions (such as habitat destruction and transforVery little has changed in the past decade and the namation, the spread of invasive alien species, pollution,
tions of this world are still struggling to find common
overpopulation, and over-harvesting) are depleting
political ground in the fight to conserve biological diEarth’s natural resources at such an alarming rate and
versity and reduce biodiversity loss, let alone agree on
putting such strain on the environment that the ability